Tuesday, August 14, 2007
[ why i want my life to be in the chick lit section. ]
Hahahaaa. I am seriously getting addicted to chick lit. I can't help it. I've got nothing else to do and the next best thing is be somebody else somewhere living a life.
Today I went to a beach in Texas. Oh yeah adik talaga. I wish it could happen to me, go on a vacation with my friends, party a little, meet some guys. The life, mehn. But at the rate I'm going I'll be doing exactly that in fifteen years (yeah, fifteen, when I'm twice my age now). When I'll probably have my own kid. I haven't even gone to the spa yet, with my mom or anyone else. Omaygulay am I that pathetic? I swear when I have a daughter, that spa sessions will be our bonding activity. I will not be one to pass up such an opportunity, even if it comes when I'm thirty. In fact I would LOVE to have a facial, get a massage and such, all while feeling like a...female.
I want that.
I also want my life to be like the books. It can be predictable I know, but it's so exciting. I wish my parents would be more hands-off. I wish I were more confident. I wish I could have anything I want. I wish I could update my wardrobe. I wish I were popular. I wish I related with my family better. I wish I wasn't this lazy. I wish...
Read chick lit if you haven't. And then ramble on like I'm doing.
Labels: chick lit, summer
chLoe was here at: 8:22:00 PM
Thursday, August 02, 2007
[ heat wave hits toronto ]
Eh, I am so bored. It's 30 plus degrees outside, I'm in the house, and I have nothing to do. I'd almost rather have the tests you all are always talking about. School starts in a month. HELP I'M DROWNING IN BOREDOM!!!
Well what can I do? You can't expect me to make my Niagara posts today. I'm sweating like a pig, I can't think properly, and before long one of my sisters is going to bug me to get off the PC anyway. Ah, well. I'm just going to worry about what half a year of vacation is going to do to my already-deficient social skills.
For a man to achieve all that is demanded of him he must regard himself as greater than he is.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Labels: boredom, summer
chLoe was here at: 9:32:00 AM
Thursday, July 26, 2007
[ kioku no michi ]
Memory is an old friend. I welcome it with open arms, but sometimes I push it away and not let it come near.
Most of the time I choose to do the latter. Why? For a girl like me who never wants to forget, why? Why do I bother to make daily diary entries? Why do I choose to update my blog? Why do I spend hours finishing a [somewhat] useless scrapbook? If I don't want memories to come, why do I preserve them?
I don't want to forget. There are many days, many times, that are part of my memories that are close to my heart that I never want to forget: the day I laughed at this joke, the day I went to that place. The time I was depressed, the time I'd never felt so alive. And yet the ones I choose to remember are those that are not really important: dates.
Dates and memories are not really contrasts; they are part of each other, but they can exist without the other. Dates are important to me. I'm somewhat famous in my family for being able to remember such things, and I'd usually come up with "Do you remember that time when...it was on the 12th of May." or "Today last year we were at..." Being able to remember dates is kind of my special ability (which is why I love history), because they are my way of holding on to the past. Dates are just numbers. They are empty.
Memories are not. Memories are the ones that fill dates, that happen in between those numbers, every second, minute, and hour of the day. Memories are different. They do not need dates to exist. All you need to remember are the basics: that you were a kid, that this-and-that happened. No need for useless numbers.
Dates are harder to remember, but I choose them over memories. Why? Because memories are painful - I have never quite learned to let go properly, or to say goodbye, so I choose to let it pass without feeling anything. Days later I will remember where I was and what I was doing (but never what I went through), fall into the new routine, and not relive anything from that date. That's the main reason why I rarely miss anything. Saves me from somewhat unnecessary tears. Once it's gone, it's gone.
Quick. Easy. Painless.
There are some days memory comes to me and, no matter how much I resist, floods over me. Sometimes I take out mementos on impulse. I hate these days, memories are so uncontrollable! That and the feelings they bring: helplessness at not being able to change things, embarrassment or regret for what's been done, sadness for things past.
In short, pain.
Taking a walk down kioku no michi, as my sister calls it, is no hobby of mine. Not my favourite, but I can't help it sometimes. Today I read the blog of an old friend. I was so struck by the fact that two years had passed and so much had happened since then - stuff I tried not to feel - that I wrote my stat on Friendster: "have you ever thought about how far we've come? ang layo na kaya.. two years is a lot, especially in high school."
Hello, memory, old friend.
Labels: memories, school, summer
chLoe was here at: 3:17:00 PM
Friday, July 13, 2007
[ harry patooters ]
I'm so disappointed I can't even criticize...
:((
Will discontinue movie-Potter-fandom for a while and wait for the Deathly Hallows.
Oh dang.
Rupert Grint was in Toronto last Wednesday.
Downtown.
I was like a street or two away and I didn't even see him.
Sayang.
Boo.
Labels: blog, summer
chLoe was here at: 7:27:00 PM
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
[ something i didn't expect ]
So today I just came home from Centre Island with my whole family plus Tita Baby (who came all the way from Cali), and Nicole and Monica.
Full story later 'cause my arms still hurt - don't ask. I'm going to write a three-part series about today's adventure, this being part three. What I mean by the title is, really, I saw something I didn't expect.
I do know that the
FIFA U-20 is being held here in Canada, although I'm not very excited about it (at least not as much as I was at last year's World Cup). I was puzzled by the banners everywhere that proclaimed the event. I thought, oh, it's no big deal, maybe this is a smaller version, like undercards, you know. But there's always U-20 news in the dailies, and by reading I found out that U-20 is short for under twenty. So the players must be really young.
Wow, what a privilege, I'm in the same country as them! Although it's not as big as the actual FIFA World Cup, I'm still excited that it's being held in Canada. Not all matches are here in Toronto though. Some are in Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton.
How big a chance was it that I would actually run into any of them? So imagine how surprised I was when, while we were waiting for our
sundo in front of the Westin Harbour Castle downtown, a bus stopped by near where we were and a guy in soccer jersey, shorts, and cleats got out. I thought it was a tourist bus since there was no indication of it being any other. Then another guy dressed the same way came out. Then another, then another, then another, until the whole team got out. By then I was going "Wowowowowow".
All of them were wearing (if I remember correctly) red/maroon and blue. I checked the
FIFA schedule a while ago and what luck, one of today's matches are in Toronto! I do not know if they are actually staying at the Westin or doing some publicity or what. I also do not know where they're from, 'cause I don't know what color jersey-which country they are. Based on the colors and today's schedule I'd say USA. But maybe they're not really part of the World Cup or anything. Still, though, wow.
Some people asked for autographs and then the coach came out of the bus and three little boys dressed in soccer shirts came up to him and said something, and then he patted one of them on the head. Appearently they knew him, or at least, that he was coming. I wish I could've asked for an autograph, but since I was not expecting this, I wasn't prepared. FIFA's site says today's USA-Uruguay match was 0:1, in favour (pardon my new spellings!) of Uruguay. I swear a minute ago it was 0:0. They sure update fast! Will check tomorrow's paper for final score. Click link above for details.
Labels: summer
chLoe was here at: 5:46:00 PM
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
[ pizza tale ]
Oh lord.
I'm in the family room down from the kitchen, having just downed four slices of pizza in quick succession. I am typing this little anecdote in the hopes of interesting you and garnering more visits to this blog.
Anyway, it was not Pizza Hut, which I am used to eating, which was the culprit in this story. It was something called Jamaican...hot sauce.
To start off with, I am a big pizza lover, and would gladly allow more stomach room for more slices. Problem is, I have PMS, and I'm at the stage where I eat a lot. There was this twelve-course dinner last Saturday, which didn't help at all, then some leftover fondue, butter cookies and whatnot lying around in the kitchen. Somebody untempt me!
So, three pounds heavier than I was last week (hey, I counted!), I proceeded to stuff myself again. It all started with an innocent little slice of Pizza Hut's beef-and-pepperoni, and a tiny drop of Jamaican hot sauce. Now you should know that I never can enjoy a pizza without a sauce of some sort (garlic, chili, you name it) and once in a while I get an overdose of the spicy kind.
Today was one of those days. After that small droplet of yellow sauce, I added about six more, in abundance. They'd already warned me about the taste but I guess I underestimated the power of Caribbean hotness.
After that slice it was fast and furious all the way. I couldn't even finish it so I gave it to my mom and started a new one, this time without the sauce. I didn't even need it. The taste was still as fresh in my mouth as if I had put it on that slice. I drank a lot of Coke repeatedly and with each bite.
So here I am, sitting right after having such a huge meal. It's one of those times when my mind is racing and my fingers are itching to type, which may just mean that I am inspired (which I hardly am). And when when I indeed am, I choose to ignore it. So count yourself lucky to have had me type this thing. Hopefully you'll be coming back for more. Ha.
Labels: boredom, foodtrip, summer
chLoe was here at: 4:48:00 PM
Monday, July 09, 2007
[ the blahs ]
I kind of feel stupid.
Today before me and my sisters and Tito Raul went to the library, the neighbor, who was a white guy called 'The Boss', said "Somebody lose a shower cap?" I had no idea what he was talking about and so I said, "No". Then I realized he was holding a transparent plastic bag that did kind of look like a shower cap. I said "Oh, that's a big one," the same time he said "It was a joke".
Right.
Boy boy boy boy. It's one of those embarrassing moments I can't help but replay and cringe at. Oh, well. At least we'll probably be moving out next week. And he doesn't know who I am anyway.
So then we went to Port Union, which has a really small library with a big circular glass window at the side. The whole teens section consisted of exactly one shelf. With such limited choices I was forced to read the backs of books and it took me a really long time to decide. Finally I picked two chick lit ones and checked them out. I was stuck on whether or not to borrow The Princess Diaries VII, but I'd already read parts of it before.
I've actually just finished reading the first one, I Am the Wallpaper, which is a really good, funny book. I'd like to see it made into a movie. Floey Packer, the main character, was easy to relate to because she's experienced many mortifying moments, like me, though she did not make her own site to write of her own will, unlike me. Unfortunately for her, her diary is posted on the Internet by her cousins and suddenly she's not a wallpaper anymore. Being a nonwallpaper has consequences though - everyone knows everything about her, including her crush on her best friend. Recommended for the regular teen. It's a laugh-out-loud book with its own moments. According to a review it could be put alongside Louise Rennison and Paula Danziger, although the person who wrote it was a guy. Amazing.
In due time I will post the details on our trip to the Niagara and other stuff, but for now you're going to have to be contented with the pics (and no story) of Kuya Chris' wedding. It was a lot of fun. :)
Labels: boredom, summer
chLoe was here at: 7:21:00 PM
[ boring title, i know. i couldn't think of anything to put here but "wedding". ]
THESE ARE ALL TAKEN FROM MY COUSIN'S FACEBOOK.
(Thanks Kuya Rommel XP)
The lady Santoses:Mom, Auntie Tots, Auntie Cel, Tita Cisty, Tita Baby
Second generation:Me, Nadine, Arielle, Nicole, Monica
Try this for size:
The entire groom's family. Well, almost.
With love from Chris and Coleen:
The giveaways (fortune cookies)
Table for people over thirty:
The newlyweds and the "oldies".
Smile and say cheese:
The newlyweds and the groom's cousins (plus me and the dress I almost wish I didn't wear).
LOL:
Me and my sisters plus our goofy cousin Rommel (credits for the pics cuz).
Us again:Monica, Arielle, Me, Nadine, Nicole.
Labels: canada, family, summer
chLoe was here at: 12:32:00 AM
Saturday, June 02, 2007
[ an open letter ]
Like the title says, this is an open letter because I'm letting you all read it. It's mostly about my feelings on moving to you-know-where, written to my cousin who lives there.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
To: NiKkIbUm
Date: Saturday, 2 June, 2007 11:02 PM
Subject: a little more than two weeks
Message:
well today is june 2nd, and there are only 17 more days until we leave.
it's still a bit unreal to me and i can't grasp the fact that we're actually going. i feel a bit numb, kind of devoid of emotion, about leaving here and coming there.
you'd think i would at least be excited, but i'm not. it's almost the start of the school year back here and i don't even miss going. i don't miss anything... YET, but i probably will.
i wonder what it'll be like to live there. i can't think of that, of the future, or anything. i still can't, don't, won't believe that we're nearly half-done packing, or that we've attended a lot of farewells already, or that our names are on the flight roster.
gee whiz. is this normal? cause when we had that seminar on which they prep us for life in canada, they told us to expect some stages/changes in our attitude: euphoria (none of that now), disenchantment (maybe when i finally start feeling something), acceptance, and adjustment. or something like that.
i'm not even euphoric. i don't expect anything from canada or you. don't get me wrong - a lot of people have told us it isn't necessarily easy there. and as for you, online people are maybe, and mostly, different from what they are in real life. so i won't expect anything of you. we'll get to know each other better when i get there. and please don't expect anything from me either. i'm mostly shy around new people - it'll probably be a little awkward at first, as firsts are, but i'll get used to you over some time.
hopefully, i'm going to take it in well and in stride. i can't say what will be happening in the 18 or so days when i meet canada and you all, because i'm not feeling anything. no premonitions, no expectations. so i guess i'm living each day in slow motion.
now to change the topic, the titas have been making bilin, and we've been shopping till we're dead tired. so while we're at it, do you want anything?
earlier today kuya sam and ate tech took us to the columbia warehouse where we bought our cold-weather gear - probably like the ones you saw them wear when they went there. they were heavy, man! you can give me and my sisters advice on what/how to layer when we get there, but as of now we are just finishing shopping and packing.
see you soon. i will probably start feeling euphoric once i get on the plane. but till then, good luck to me and my family.
"For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."
- Colossians 2:5
Labels: canada, changes, summer
chLoe was here at: 11:13:00 PM
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
[ remind me to: ]
make a post about the following:
apr 4-went to sta rosa, laguna
apr 18-my birthday
apr 27-qcmc, the fort, market2
may 8-divisoria (check date)(basta saturday)
sometime after that na tuesday-dentist, landmark, som's, d'angelo's, oth school proj ep
may 13-u.p., market2 again
may 20-qcmc again, megamall, shrek 3
may 25-trinoma
may 27-garage sale, pirates 3
may 30-today; arielle's 14th bday
"I must remind you that our credulity is not to be measured by the truth of the things we believe. When men believed that the earth was flat, they were not credulous: they were using their common sense, and, if asked to prove that the earth was flat, would have said simply, 'Look at it.' Those who refuse to believe that it is round are exercising a wholesome skepticism."
- George Bernard Shaw
Labels: blog, cafe posting, summer
chLoe was here at: 2:53:00 PM
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
[ i am running out of titles. ]
I'm kind of getting tired of blogging. Not because I don't have much more things to say, but because when I do, the computer has this annoying habit of not being accessible at the time.
Bad computer.
Luckily, I'm at the internet cafe today, with more time and more freedom (BYE BYE LIST OF BOOKS!) Last time I was here, the day before yesterday, I had 18 pages of work to do.
Okay. Today is Tuesday, my almost-favorite day of the week, because I get to watch my favorite shows. Plus Miss Universe was on too. Riyo Mori of Japan is this year's winner. Miss Philippines, Anna Theresa Licaros, was named Ms. Photogenic. At least may award.
Last night I also got to watch my FAVORITE show, One Tree Hill. Naadik ako dun since yung episode na naaksidente si Haley. Nun lang. Dati kahit hindi lahat mapanood okay lang. Well. Last Monday I managed to sneak in a little internet time between my 18 pages of work. So I did a little research on tonight's episode (I knew beforehand what was going to happen anyway, thanks to a little research from Wikipedia a while back.)
The One Tree Hill Friendster group I'm in had a discussion board on each episode. I commented a little and it helped to see their reactions on this night's ep. Anyway, I was real excited because in this one, Derek's back and he's got Peyton in her basement. Knowing what was going to happen made me want to watch this one even more. Brooke rescues Peyton and they make up at the end. So I wanted to see how the two of them manage to beat this maniac-stalker up.
With that over at 9 pm, I switch to RPN to watch another show which I kind of find interesting. I love America's Next Top Model and I wondered how they would do a Philippines' Next Top Model. Well, they all say we Pinoys are bad imitators, so it would be interesting to see how they'd make it this time.
Surprisingly, PNTM is innovative. The only thing is that they speak Taglish, which, even if I do speak it at most times, I find a little turn-offish. I mean can we speak one language at a time? Taglish is so corrupted and some people speak English so bad foreigners make fun of the accent. Filipinos are fond of wrong grammar. *cringe, cringe*
Back on the subject, PNTM manages to have some originality, though some critics find it "cheap". I only hope that whoever wins is really of star quality, knows how to speak good English, and will present a POSITIVE image of the Filipino (model) to the international community.
That said, I will now launch on a recap of last night's episode. I only get to watch half of the show since I'm still on ETC with One Tree Hill, so I often miss some things I should know if I watched the whole thing.
For example, when I switched to RPN during a commercial break, Joey Mead was visiting the girls in the house. There were still four of them. When I came back after One Tree Hill, they were in Hong Kong and Elf was gone.
That kind of sucked, because Elf was/is my favorite and I think she could actually win. The loss of my favorite contestant made the show less interesting. And to make things worse, my other favorite, Jen, was eliminated last night. Both in one episode?!
Oh well. That leaves only Grendel and Rina, both not particularly my favorites, but I hope Grendel wins. Last Saturday there was an update on Wikipedia that Grendel won, but it was revoked on Monday. I don't really like Rina, but she knows how to pose. I really hope Grendel wins. She lacks personality, but she's better-looking than Rina.
"Never make a commitment you're not going to stick to."
- Your mom, probably
Labels: cafe posting, summer
chLoe was here at: 10:58:00 PM
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
[ short ]
Dang, the computer is out again. Shorter posts, no internet access, having to endure dota-boy shouting.
This sucks.
"Should I stand on 125th Street cussing out Whitey to show I am tough?"
- Whitney Moore, Jr.
Labels: blog, cafe posting, summer
chLoe was here at: 9:06:00 PM
Thursday, May 17, 2007
[ sweet nibblets! ]
I watched Philippines Next Top Model last Tuesday and they went to the same beach we went to. I mean in Laiya, Batangas. But not the same resort. LMAO =))
"Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings."
- Supposedly funny Internet quote
Labels: cafe posting, summer, top model
chLoe was here at: 4:26:00 PM
Saturday, May 12, 2007
[ in the mind of sentimentality ]
I'm at the cafe again, typing. It's been long since I last did this because I never like to type when I have limited time. Anyway. Do you realize it's the 12th of May today? A month more and we'll find ourselves back in school. This summer was the fastest - and the slowest - I've ever been. Days moved by slowly maybe because I was bored. I hardly went out except with my family to do some shopping. Not like last year. It was the best summer I ever had.
Days moved and are moving quickly, and I realize that it's only matter of time before I'm leaving, before I get to start a new life. It moves, quickly. Faster than I can feel anything about going. Quickly. I don't realize that I'm wasting precious time. Quickly. While I'm thinking slow time catches up and overtakes me.
What is that funny thing about time anyway? It flies when you're having fun and it doesn't when you're not.
Did it fly? May 12, 2006. When we were in the hotel in Manila. How much time since then? A year ago today. Is it?
June 13, 2006. Still clear in my memory, like it happened today. Did it fly again?
May 12 to June 13, 2007. Almost a month. I HOPE IT DOESN'T.
I'm a person who lives in the past. Maybe I keep hanging on to it like a dream. Then BAM, when I wake up, it's gone. I realize that it's over and it's done.
Somebody once told me that if I bring my past into my very near future, I'll be finding it harder to move on. That's a new way of thinking I guess.
Thing is, I don't like to think about the future.
And as much as I tend to, I don't like to live in the past either.
I wish I could live in the present.
But then, maybe I'll just have to realize that this is now, before it's too late, before I let time overtake me and regret it for the rest of my future.
To those who do not realize what I mean, this post is about my life in general. I'm moving and I'll be gone before I know it, and there's only a little over a month left, and I still have to go to school on the 13th of June just like I did a year ago, only to be there one last time before I leave.
"Love alters not with time's brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom."
- Lucas Scott, One Tree Hill
Labels: cafe posting, canada, summer
chLoe was here at: 4:58:00 PM
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
[ backtracking ]
Good morning!
Go to my archives and read my December 9 post please. :) I added it yesterday cause I wasn't able to post back then. In case you wondered, it's about Greek food. Go ahead. And don't forget to comment! I'll be adding a haloscan comment/trackback thing maybe later. HA! Late indeed. I know you all have had haloscans for ages. I just never thought I'd need one till I found out cbox only stores 100 messages. Huhuhu :'(
"It's innocence when it charms us; ignorance when it doesn't."
- Mignon McLaughlin
Labels: summer
chLoe was here at: 6:08:00 PM
Saturday, May 05, 2007
[ spidey post ]
Warning: LONG POST. AND SPOILERS. So if you don't like that, go somewhere else.
Since everybody else is talking about the latest installment in the Spiderman movies, I thought I might as well too.
It was (not surprisingly) full in almost ALL movie houses - especially at SM and Town, because everybody was and is dying to see it. I like watching E! News (le gossip girl, moi) and all it got was rave reviews from the film critics. So then people wonder what they are raving about. After all, what can be better than the first two?
We just got home from the theater, after watching the 10:30 showing at Festi. It was really surprising, because we were like seven people in the orchestra seats - five in my family and a couple in the last row. And there were - I don't know - about fifteen people in the premiers. Considering all the hype about Spidey, the theater was pretty much empty.
Which is somewhat explained by the fact that all eight of the Festi theaters are showing the same movie.
All in all, Spiderman 3 is okay. I like the story, I like the characters, and I like the effects. It's all good - and that's only my opinion. You know the thing my sister calls the "movie after-effect"? It's when after you watch a film, you get so involved in it that when you come out of the theater you're still zoned? Spiderman 1 and 2 did that to me. I remember the family watched the first movie in Metropolis (ha!) back when we still went there, and after the movie I was feeling like Spiderman. Well, I was in fourth grade.
Back then I wasn't such a film buff as I am now. I guess all that watching celebrity gossip news is getting to me. Not that I'm a gossip. I just like hearing the latest Hollywood news, so if they tell me this movie is great, I try to watch it.
So, back to Spidey. Like I said, it was an okay movie. It wasn't spectacular like I expected, and I didn't get the after-effect, but it was okay. I guess I don't stand for too much action anyway. But if it isn't spectacular, then it's great. It had all the elements - romance, friendship, action, comedy.
Tobey Maguire does a good job on Peter Parker/Spiderman; he's a convincing actor. He brings a sort of humanity into the character and reminds us that yes, Spidey is only human. And he gets a huge ego inflation in the process. I was laughing really hard when he was doing that I'm Cool thing in the streets. Which reminds me, there are some funny parts in the movie. Like with the newspaper editor and his secretary reminding him to manage his anger and take his pills, and when Peter takes MJ out to a fancy restaurant.
Kirsten Dunst is great too - she looks lovely in this movie. I liked her hair the best. It's long and red and wavy, better on her than short and blonde. She's okay as MJ still. MJ by the way is now a Broadway actress/singer who is let go on a bad show. MJ is almost proposed to by Peter, and MJ breaks up with Peter. MJ is suspended in a taxi by Sandman and Venom, MJ is saved by Spidey. I can't help remembering the line "Who are you?" after Peter accidentally pushes her in a bar brawl.
On the romance part, a love triangle happens. Bryce Dallas Howard is Gwen Stacy, Peter's "just a classmate" whom he uses to make MJ jealous after they break up. She doesn't know he's Spiderman, the same person who saved her from falling off a building. Bryce is okay I guess, but her role is quite small.
Thomas Haden Church is one of three villains; he plays Sandman. When I was watching E! News prior to watching Spiderman, I heard that the director (Sam Raimi) wanted only Arizona sand for the movie. So there you go, all the sand on Sandman is from Arizona. Thomas is not what you'd expect from a big guy such as he is - despite his size, he's a real good actor. He's convincing enough as a tough guy who commits crime only because of his love for his daughter. We later find out that it's he who killed Peter's Uncle Ben. In the end though, Peter forgives him. On Thomas as an actor again - he's got so much muscle! His face is way tough. I mean look at the pictures. Medyo naiinis ako na medyo natutuwa sa mukha niya. Ewan ko ba.
Another villain, a photographer-turned-monster, is Peter's archrival on the newspaper they both work for. He's Edward Brock Jr., later Venom, played by Topher Grace. I remember seeing him on Win A Date With Tad Hamilton - if he's the same guy, but he was kind of geeky there and here... well, he's cute. But not my type.
On the other hand, James Franco is! How can you not love James? He's got GWAPO written all over him. I can't help it - I've had a crush on him since Spiderman 1 and again on Spiderman 2 and yet again on Tristan and Isolde. I love his smile... Anyway, he plays the third villain - as Peter's ex-best friend Harry Osborn. There were times I thought James was quite, er, on some bad acting - I mean, he looks like he's doing just that, acting. But who cares? He's hot! Sorry, back on the subject. After he and Spidey go on a fight, Harry is left in a coma and totally forgets what's recently happened. Like the fact that he and Peter are supposed to be enemies. So they start over again, but the moment is ruined by Harry's father, the late Green Goblin. So Harry forces MJ to break up with Peter, and more fights with the latter happens before he begins to realize that they're really friends. "I would give up my life for them" is what he says to the hospital nurse, and that's exactly what Harry does in the end.
I'll spare you the details, but I gather you're smart enough to put it all together anyway. Or maybe you've already watched the movie. Which is more likely.
Till next post (hopefully soon),
Your friendly neighborhood nonSpiderman,
Chloe :P
"Wow Spidey, LOVE the new outfit! Give me some of that web action?"
- Eddie Brock, Jr., Spiderman-3
Labels: summer
chLoe was here at: 1:09:00 AM
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
[ of pants, pets, and pearls ]
Today I continued sorting out my stuff. Nothing special really. There were a lot of visitors in the house earlier, come to look at our buyables. First there were two of my preschool teachers - I studied nursery and kindergarten in our village school. They took a look at our books, and the bookshelf, and teacher Carina bought the old art table. Also there was Louine's neighbor Sisa, I think she's buying one of the study-desks. Then there was a nice lady with a lot of kids who bought all sorts of books.
Aside from all that, I took out my old play jewelry - none of which I've touched for ages, to sort them out. And then I went to Louine's to lend her the fourth Sisterhood book. When my sister and I got home, we saw a girl walking her dogs. Our new dog (which doesn't really belong to us), Aron, took a look at them and barked. The dogs went crazy. I didn't know what to do, since Aron hardly knows me. The girl took care of it herself. If I were her I wouldn't be able to.
Basically, that's all that happened today. I don't know why I'm writing this. I guess for memories, or I'm just bored.
"It would be easy to say that the pants changed everything that summer. But looking back now I feel like our lives changed because they had to, and that the real magic of the pants was in bearing witness to all of this and in somehow holding us together when it felt like nothing would ever be the same again. "
- Carmen Lowell, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Labels: boredom, memories, summer
chLoe was here at: 9:38:00 PM
Thursday, April 26, 2007
[ a taste of pampanga ]
GOOD GRIEF I HAVE SUCH A CRAVING FOR HALO-HALO!
I want one!
V
V
Last April 22 I had 'em twice. Ang init parin so I want more!
Kasi nung April 22. Sunday yun. Kakain sana kami sa Chowking pero walang halo-halo dun. So sa Max's nalang. Ayos lang yung dun. Masarap naman.
Then mga 6 PM nagbrownout. Sobrang init! Nakakainis nga kasi summer na tapos ganun pa. Yun tumawag yung dad ko sa mga motel, kaso mahal. Kaya pumunta kami sa Town. Nakita ko pa nga si Charmaine eh. HAHA :p
Did you know that Nigel Barker is coming to the Philippines?
May 11, 6 PM at Alabang Town, Activity Center
Check nalang the posters. I'm not sure about the time and date eh but yeah, he IS coming.
Well anyway, siyempre alam naming bukas na yung Razon's dun. Kasi dati, naadik talaga kaming lahat sa halo-halo ng Razon's kaso malayo (sa Robinson's Galleria) kaya minsan lang. Tapos nagbukas sa ATC. So yun. Yung pic nasa taas, kuha lang yan sa Google. P60 lang isa. Nakakabusog na yun.
TRY MO HA!!! Ibang-iba talaga ang halo-halo nila eh. Want more? Click
HERE.
"While yet it is cold January, and snow and ice are thick and solid, the prudent landlord comes from the village to get ice to cool his summer drink..."
- Henry David Thoreau
Labels: foodtrip, summer
chLoe was here at: 3:48:00 PM
Monday, April 23, 2007
[ summer reads ]
I'm guessing you're pretty bored right now, and since I couldn't fit this into yesterday's post, I'm putting it here.
Whether I'm at the beach, on a road trip or in a hotel, I always bring an interesting book with me. Because we're in the middle of summer right now, I thought I might post my good ol' list of summer reads.
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
Rating: * * * * (compared to the previous books)
When we went to Laiya last Friday, I brought my new book along. It was called Forever in Blue. the fourth and last book in the Sisterhood series by Ann Brashares. I say it's a great read for this time of the year because the stories - Lena's, Carmen's, Bridget's, and Tibby's - all take place in summer. This book was released last February and it's quite new, so there are still no paperbacks available. Hardbound copies cost a lot - mine was P689 from Powerbooks in the Mall of Asia.
This book chronicles the last adventure of the Sisterhood before they go off to college. I've always been a big fan of them, and I was sad to see it finished. I have the other three books and they make great reads too. But we're talking about the fourth one here.
Bridget flies off to Turkey and meets a guy named Peter. What happens to Eric? Lena is in Providence and falls for Leo, who is in her art class. But she can't forget what Carmen warns her about: as soon as she forgets about him, Kostos will show up. Is there a chance he will? Meanwhile, Carmen herself is being invisible, but gets discovered by a casting director. There is a test of friendship involved. And Tibby lets go of somebody she loves, only to find out she can't.
The Pants make their rounds for one last summer before the girls say goodbye. Is this the end?
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Rating: * * * * *
Salamanca Tree Hiddle is on a summer road trip with her grandparents to find out what happened to her mom. Along the way, she tells them the story of her friend Phoebe, and not until the end does she realize that she's part of it as well. She recounts her life from when she found out her mother wasn't coming back and what events happened that led to that. A lot of kilig moments involving Ben Finney, one of her close friends.
I can't summarize the story properly! But because it's that good, the book was awarded with a Newbery Medal. It's one of my pinaka-favorite books, and it's going to be a movie soon!
Playing Phoebe Winterbottom is Carly Schroeder (Matt's friend Melina in Lizzie McGuire). I don't know who plays Sal.
Rating: * * * * * (depends on the story)
Obsessed about a pairing? Love that 'ship? Can't get enough of your favorite show? Why don't you try reading fanfic - short for fan fiction - stories made by fans just as obsessed as you! There is a wide selection of reads here, from oneshots to chaptered to poems. If you read enough, you learn the lingo! You might even try writing one yourself (I have. HA, HA.)
FanFiction has specific categories, and characters. You can find stuff more easily here, because it's sorted by category. FictionPress I think is managed by the same people, only this is a bit different in the sense that it's more YOU. Less organization, and you can post your own thing here. It doesn't have to be a certain TV show or movie or book. You can post your autobiography, for all I care. So if you are looking for loads of great stuff to read, get 'em here!
Live and love summer! And books! Try trading some good reads with your friends - it'll give you something to do. Go to the beach! Take your book with you! And of course, don't forget your iPod. :P
"All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder"
- William Shakespeare, Passionate Pilgrim 3
Labels: boredom, summer
chLoe was here at: 9:31:00 PM
Saturday, April 21, 2007
[ beach weekend ]
You know who you are. You said we should be on trips by now. And you were right.
We went to the beach yesterday (by the way, this is an edit post, in case you noticed). Initially it was just a road trip to Batangas, because my dad had a hearing there and us girls - that's my mom, my sisters and I - were just in for the ride. Pero the day before we left they told me we might be going to the beach. THAT SOON? WAIT. I wasn't prepared for that. I need an advance warning for things like that. Besides, wala 'ko sa mood nun.
But there was nothing I could do; you couldn't reschedule a somebody else's hearing for the sake of your own mood swings, so there. It took us seven hours to get to Batangas. Mind you, if it's a beach, it should be on the tip of an island. So seven hours. We got lost along the way and wasted about an hour's journey in Batangas City, which by the way was in the OPPOSITE direction. By the time we got to the resort I was extremely bored. Ilang oras ka ding nakaupo sa kotse, no?
And then there was the beach. At first it didn't look like too much of a beach. After lunch, my sisters and I went to explore. I think I was in "the mood" by then. HA, HA.
So you're asking, where is this beach? It's at the very end of Batangas. If I tell you I went snorkeling in the Mindoro Strait, you should believe me. It's that far. The place is privately-owned, I mean a resort, but the beach is public. If you get what I mean. It's called Laiya Coco Grove, in San Juan, Batangas.
Which brings me to my next point. Would you believe, there are four pages of pictures of LCG on Google? Well. Anyway. Most of them are misc, but there are a few good ones too. There's even a website:
HERE. Hm. So the mountain at the right side of the beach was Mt. Daguldol. Hm.
A lady showed us a cottage and we were asked by our parents if we wanted an overnight stay, to which we said Kahit ano (any of which), our usual reply. So we stayed!
Only me and Arielle and Nadine actually went in the water. We built sand castles, etc. etc. I swallowed sea water, etc. etc. ...
And soon it was low tide. And I mean LOW. Because the shoreline had receded to about ten to fifteen feet, and what was once there was not. I was struck to think that we had been swimming in among seaweed, sand crabs, hundreds of tiny snails, and many other little creatures of the sea. My mom and I spent some time on the non-beach looking and poking at them. The water left was dirty, there was a lot of mud, and seaweeds - brown, mushroomy ones - formed a line on the boundary between sand and sea.
And so after several hours in the sun, during which Nadine collected a variety of shells, I climbed a lookout post on a coconut tree and cursed for fear of going down (SH*T!), we explored the stretch of beach that was the Coco Grove, and wrote our names in the sand, it was finally time to settle. Our family was the only one on the entire resort (excluding the happy campers in the lone tent on the beach), and it was good, because it was quality time with them 'rents and sibs. Since we had not originally planned on staying overnight, we had leftovers for dinner - cold chicken and all. But it still tasted good.
There were strange marks on the sand, like that of a little ribbon snake, extremely thin and loopy, and since we were the only ones there, I got kind of scared. But never mind, because morning came soon.
By then the water had risen a little. The ocean was beautiful. But! The peace was destroyed soon after, because a lot of people came. It was a large prayer group from Antipolo and they held a little Mass on the beach, which was fine because...
We went out into the sea. Sigayan Bay to Mindoro Strait. To think that it was only a strait and you could see Mindoro and Puerto Galera (another of the more popular beaches here) on the other side! We were on a boat with those things on the side to maintain balance - like we did before in San Fabian, Pangasinan when I was seven, the first beach I ever went to. There were two guys with us. One was Mang Nardo, who controlled the engine, and the other I don't know who.
Last night I had already decided I was going snorkeling for the experience, and I knew I could potentially be scared. But today I just went and jumped off. At first I sank. My head went below but I wasn't scared at all. I put on the mask and went in again. And brought some salt water in to my nostrils. Again and again I tried, and failed. I was always getting salt water in - nose or mouth. Finally the other guy told me to blow. BLOW AND SUCK. KEEP THE TUBE ABOVE THE WATER. Okay. So I clung on to the ladder at the side of the boat, and went in again. So much better.
I can still remember what I saw down there. When I tried Googling pics of coral reefs, I couldn't stomach it. Because what I saw down there is something you can't see in a picture, something you have to experience yourself. The depth of the sea - fifteen to twenty feet I think; the magnificence of the colors of the fish - blue, violet, bright yellow, zebra-striped; and the size of the corals - the size of a bedroom - was absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Very beautiful.
But like I said, you can get overwhelmed. Sometimes you can't stomach it. I was both at the same time, in awe and overwhelmed. This is a strait! Very small compared to the actual sea! And yet - very deep and rich in marine life. I always made sure to keep something familiar in view - the underside of the boat, my sister's foot - so I wouldn't get too scared. Fish were all around, the corals were below. And I have to admit this: I got kind of freaked. But don't get me wrong. It is absolutely beautiful. If you ever go to Sigayan Bay or Mindoro Strait, never forget to snorkel. It's an experience of a lifetime, and you won't forget it. Can't even describe it, because it will always be more than words can say.
Moving on. Back at the beach itself, you will probably see a lot of vendors peddling their wares - "Ma'am sampalok kinse lang" - but you watch out for the pearl vendors. They are mostly Badjaos, and they sell genuine pearls, straight from the sea, at only P100. How much of a bargain is that?
If you talk to them, they might even show you the oyster shell where pearls are just beginning to form. There are black ones, and pink, and blue (South Sea pearls I think), and of course white. Just think: a pair of earrings and a ring made of REAL pearls for P100. Plus you'll be helping the Badjaos. Sinisid pa nila yan para sayo! :))
Going back to Manila took only four hours this time, and we saw Christopher de Leon campaigning for vice mayor or governor I think, but for now, boy am I tired.
"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo."
- H. G. Wells
Labels: happy days, memories, summer
chLoe was here at: 8:13:00 PM
